Transforming a skateboard into a longboard requires replacing the trucks and wheels with longer versions specifically designed for longboarding. If you have an old skateboard lying around, you can easily turn it into a longboard with a few simple adjustments.
The main difference between the two is the length and width of the deck, as well as the size of the trucks and wheels. Longboards are typically longer and wider than skateboards, with larger soft wheels that make them suitable for cruising and carving. To turn your skateboard into a longboard, you’ll need to replace the trucks and wheels with longer versions, which are specifically designed for longboarding. In this guide, we’ll go through the steps required to transform your skateboard into a longboard, so you can start cruising around town like a pro in no time!
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Tools And Materials
Skateboarding has been around for decades and is a popular way to hit the streets and experience the thrill of movement. While a traditional skateboard is a great way to get around and have fun, some riders prefer the longboard.
It’s larger and offers a more comfortable ride to those who may want to travel longer distances without worrying about the typical skateboard’s smaller size. Fortunately, converting a skateboard to a longboard is a relatively straightforward process, especially when you have the right tools and materials.
List Of Tools Needed For The Conversion Process
To complete the transformation, you’ll need the following items:
- Screwdriver
- Longboard trucks
- Skateboard deck
- Bearings
- Wheels
- Skate tool
- Razor blade
- Grip tape
- Drill
Detailed Explanation Of Each Tool And Its Purpose
- screwdriver: you’ll need this to remove the trucks from the skateboard deck.
- longboard trucks: these are more significant than regular skateboard trucks, and they come in two different types: reverse kingpin and traditional kingpin.
- skateboard deck: usually, a longer skateboard deck will do, but make sure that this is sturdy and can take the added weight of the longer trucks.
- bearings: you’ll need new bearings that fit longboard wheels. They have different width and diameter specifications compared to your conventional skateboard bearings.
- wheels: longboard wheels are more extensive than skateboard wheels and offer softer durometer or hardness levels. They help absorb shocks and vibrations from the ground, providing a smoother ride.
- skate tool: you’ll need this to adjust the trucks, mount bearings, and wheels onto the deck.
- razor blade: you’ll use this to cut the grip tape to fit your board.
- grip tape: this provides grip and texture to your board, making sure your feet don’t slip off when riding.
- drill: you’ll use this to drill holes in the deck for mounting the trucks.
List Of Materials Needed For The Conversion Process
In addition to the tools mentioned above, you’ll need the following materials:
- Jessup grip tape
- Mounting screws and nuts
- Painters tape
Explanation Of The Importance Of Using Quality Materials
Choosing quality materials is essential for the durability and longevity of your newly-converted longboard. Using quality bearings, steel mounting screws, and durable grip tape ensures consistency in rolling speed and a secure board structure. Cheap and lower quality materials lead to squeaky rides, weaker grips, and lower speeds due to bearing drag.
Additionally, they don’t tend to last as long, meaning you’ll need to replace them much sooner than their higher-quality counterparts, costing you more money in the long run. So, make sure you utilize quality materials right from the start of the conversion process.
Overall, the process of turning a skateboard into a longboard is a fun and cost-effective way to enjoy a more comfortable ride without shelling out money for a new longboard. With the right tools and quality materials, you’ll have a unique longboard that meets your riding preferences.
Removing The Skateboard Trucks
Skateboarding can be an exciting activity, but sometimes you might want to try something different, like longboarding. Luckily, you don’t need to purchase a brand new longboard when you can turn your old skateboard into one. In this article, we will guide you through the process of turning your skateboard into a longboard by removing the skateboard trucks.
Step-By-Step Guide For Removing The Skateboard Trucks:
Before you start removing the skateboard trucks, it’s essential to have the necessary tools, like a skate tool and a screwdriver.
- Place your skateboard on a flat surface, such as a workbench or the floor.
- Use your skate tool or a screwdriver to remove all the nuts from the screws on each truck.
- Once you have removed all the nuts, gently lift the truck away from the skateboard deck.
- Repeat the process for the other truck until both are removed.
Explanation Of What To Do With The Removed Parts:
After you have removed the trucks from your skateboard deck, you’ll be left with four separate parts.
- Keep them: you can save the removed trucks, wheels, and bearings for another skateboard or longboard creation.
- Sell them: if you’re not planning to use the parts again, you could try selling them online.
- Recycle them: if you don’t want to keep or sell the parts, you can always recycle them according to your city’s recycling guidelines.
Turning your skateboard into a longboard is a straightforward process that can be done with just a few simple steps. By removing the skateboard trucks, you’re well on your way to creating a longboard that’ll give you a new riding experience.
So what are you waiting for? Get started and enjoy the ride!
Turn your skateboard into a longboard
Cutting The Deck
Skateboarding is a thrilling experience, and longboarding allows you to take that excitement to new heights. If buying a new longboard is out of reach, you can quickly turn your skateboard into a longboard with a few easy-to-follow steps. The most crucial step in turning your skateboard into a longboard is cutting the deck to your desired length.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for cutting the skateboard deck to the desired length and some tips for ensuring a clean cut.
Step-By-Step Guide For Cutting The Skateboard Deck To The Desired Length
- First, gather all the necessary tools and materials, including a saw, measuring tape, pencil, straight edge, and workbench.
- Determine where you would like to cut the deck. Use a measuring tape to mark off the desired length on the board and place a reference mark using a straight edge and a pencil.
- Fix the board onto the workbench, ensuring it’s steady and secure. Make sure the blade of the saw is measured precisely to the thickness of the board and cuts through it cleanly.
- Make a first small cut on the reference line for alignment purposes. Make sure it’s more straightforward to line up when you start the actual cut.
- After aligning the whole blade along the reference line, begin making the cut steadily. Keep practicing and following the same line while sawing through the board until you have cut through the entire board length.
- Sand the newly cut board to ensure a smooth finish and remove any rough edges left by the saw.
Explanation Of Different Cutting Techniques Depending On The Desired Length Of The Longboard
Depending on the desired length of your new longboard, you can choose from several cutting techniques to achieve your desired outcome.
- For a short longboard, cut the board as close to the truck holes as possible. You should have approximately 24 inches of the board length remaining.
- For medium-length longboards, cut the board at the center, leaving approximately 28 to 32 inches for the board length.
- For a long longboard, cut the board only a few inches from the nose, leaving approximately 36 inches for the board length.
Using these techniques, you can make the cut based on the length you prefer.
Tips For Ensuring A Clean Cut
It’s essential to ensure that your cut is clean and smooth, giving your longboard a professional look.
- Ensure a steady hand while cutting to ensure a straight line.
- Secure the board to the workbench to prevent unnecessary movement that could interfere with the cut.
- Sand the newly cut board to ensure a smooth surface that feels good to the touch.
- Be cautious when handling the saw to avoid any injuries.
By following these simple steps for cutting your skateboard deck, you can effortlessly turn it into a longboard. Remember to take your time when cutting and use the right cutting technique based on your desired board length. Happy longboarding!
Drilling New Holes
Skateboarding takes skill, agility, and excellent balance. Longboarding is a different beast entirely, but its popularity is soaring. While you don’t need to be a pro to get started, you may need a custom board. Turning your skateboard into a longboard is easy when you know-how.
In this post, we’ll focus on drilling new holes for the longboard trucks. Follow this simple step-by-step guide to get started.
Step-By-Step Guide For Drilling New Holes For The Longboard Trucks
- Measure the distance between holes on the truck base plate. The industry standard is 2. 5 inches.
- Measure and mark the position for the new holes. Use a tape measure, straight edge, and a pencil to mark the spots where the new holes will be drilled. Keep in mind that the holes should be evenly spaced and parallel to each other.
- Clamp the truck firmly to a work surface. This will prevent the truck from moving around while you’re drilling the new holes.
- Use a drill bit that matches the size of the mount holes. Make sure the bit is sharp and in good condition to avoid damaging the truck.
- Drill the new holes. Start by making a small indent at the center of the hole. This will help guide the drill bit. Check the drill’s alignment and continue to drill down into the truck slowly, ensuring that you are drilling perpendicular to the truck base plate.
- Remove the clamps and test your new holes. Place your longboard trucks on your freshly drilled board and ensure that the holes match up properly.
Explanation Of Spacing And Placement Of New Holes
The placement of the new holes is essential for the stability and maneuverability of your longboard. The standard gap for the mount holes is 2. 5 inches apart. This spacing provides a balanced structure for the truck, ensuring that both wheels remain on the board flat while riding.
Tips For Ensuring Accuracy And Stability Of New Holes
- Start with a well-measured plan to ensure that the holes are spaced correctly.
- Use a sharp drill bit and a sturdy work surface to ensure accuracy.
- Always drill the holes perpendicular to the truck base plate for stability.
- Check the truck’s alignment before drilling and after to ensure your efforts were successful.
Now that you know how to drill new holes for your longboard trucks, get out your tools, and let’s get started. Bear in mind that taking your time and measuring accurately will lead to a longboard that’s safe and fun to ride.
Installing The Longboard Trucks And Wheels
Skateboarding is an incredibly fun hobby, but sometimes you need a little more speed and smoothness. That’s where longboarding comes in! If you have an old skateboard lying around, you can easily turn it into a longboard. One of the crucial steps in this process is installing the longboard trucks and wheels.
Step-By-Step Guide For Installing The Longboard Trucks And Wheels
To transform your skateboard into a longboard, you’ll need to install new trucks and wheels with a wider base.
- Remove the old trucks – use a skate tool to remove the nuts and bolts that attach the old trucks to the skateboard deck. Keep the old hardware as you’ll need it later.
- Choose new trucks – when it comes to choosing the right trucks, you’ll want to consider their width, height, and angle. You can pick from different types of trucks, including reverse kingpin or traditional kingpin trucks. Make sure to choose trucks that are wider than your skateboard to give stability while cruising.
- Install the new longboard trucks – place the new trucks on the board’s underside and tighten the nuts and bolts back into place. Make sure that the trucks are screwed in place tightly to guarantee safety while riding.
- Choose the right longboard wheels – there are various sized and shaped wheels to choose from, so select ones that complement the trucks you’ve picked. Bigger wheels are ideal for more stability while cruising, while smaller wheels are better suited for tricks.
- Install wheels and bearings – add a bearing to each wheel before attaching the wheel to the truck. You’ll need to use the old hardware to secure the wheels to the trucks.
Explanation Of How To Choose The Right Trucks And Wheels For The Longboard
Choosing the right trucks and wheels for turning your skateboard into a longboard is crucial.
- Consider the deck’s size and shape – the skateboard deck’s length, width, and curvature will affect the type of trucks and wheels you use.
- Look for trucks with a wider base – wider trucks offer more stability and control while cruising and help to reduce speed wobbles.
- The truck’s height and angle matter – the trucks’ height and angle will determine the turnability of the longboard. A higher angle will give more carve, while a lower angle will provide more stability.
- Choose larger wheels – longboard wheels with a diameter between 65mm-75mm are preferable. Larger wheels provide more speed and a smoother ride.
- The durometer of the wheel – a softer durometer wheel is perfect for cruising as it absorbs uneven and rough surfaces, while a harder durometer wheel is well suited for tricks.
Tips For Ensuring Stability And Balance Of The Longboard
After you’ve installed the longboard trucks and wheels, ensuring stability and balance is vital.
- Tighten the trucks – tightening the longboard trucks will provide stability while cruising. Be cautious not to make them too tight as it might restrict movement.
- Choose the right bushings – bushings are an essential component of longboards. They absorb shock from the road and have an impact on the board’s manoeuvrability and stability. Choose softer bushings for cruising and harder bushings for trick riding.
- Place your feet correctly – to maintain balance, place your feet on the board’s bolts when cruising. When you’re trick riding, position your feet towards the middle of the deck. With a proper stance, you’ll have better control of your board.
- Lean back and forth – shifting your weight back and forth will help you turn effectively and maintain balance.
Installing the longboard trucks and wheels is a vital part of turning your skateboard into a longboard. By following the correct steps and choosing the right trucks and wheels, you’ll have a longboard that provides a smoother ride while cruising, carving, or doing tricks.
Conclusion
With these simple steps, you can turn your skateboard into a longboard and enjoy a smooth, comfortable ride. Remember to maintain your newly transformed longboard regularly to ensure that it stays in top condition. With a bit of patience and some diy skills, you’ll be able to customize your longboard according to your preferences.
Turning your old skateboard into a new longboard is a budget-friendly way to enjoy a longboarding experience without breaking the bank. Whether you’re a novice longboarding enthusiast or a seasoned pro, the transformation process is simple enough for anyone to accomplish.
So, why not give it a try? With the knowledge and tips provided in this guide, you’re one step closer to cruising on your very own longboard. Get creative, have fun, and enjoy your ride on your personalized longboard. Happy longboarding!
